How the Red Sea came to the brink of a new regional war
How the Red Sea came to the brink of a new regional war Submitted by Sean Mathews on Fri, 10/09/2026 - 21:08 A war between Ethiopia and Eritrea would not be isolated this time, and would likely draw in regional powers Members of the Ethiopian Federal Police patrol aboard a pickup truck as they resume operations after federal forces pushed back the Tigray People's Liberation Front in Mekelle,…
The Red Sea region is on the brink of a potential new war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with implications for regional powers. The conflict stems from internal divisions within Ethiopia, historic tensions with Eritrea, and the involvement of Middle Eastern powers. President Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia is attempting to shift the government from an ethnic federal system to a more centralized one, which has caused friction.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a rebel group, has been fighting against the Ethiopian government since September, taking control of Tigray's capital, Mekelle. Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of sending troops to support the TPLF, but Ethiopia disputes this claim. The United Arab Emirates has been providing military aid to Ethiopia, while Eritrea has formed alliances with other African nations.
The situation is tense, with Ethiopia accusing Eritrea of aggression and Eritrea responding in kind. The conflict has already escalated to the point where Ethiopia may declare war, and it is feared that regional powers will become involved, further destabilizing the Red Sea area.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
